Dawsholm Delights

I visited Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve yesterday afternoon primarily to check on the 11 nest boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves.

I am pleased to report that at least 5 of the boxes are being used by Blue Tits. There was also  evidence of successful breeding with lots of young noisy Starlings present as well as young Carrion Crows, Robins and two broods of Mallard on the pond (B/1 and B/7).

It was also good to get my first Kingfisher sighting of the year as one flew swiftly up river.

The real highlight, however, was finding a Common Buzzard's nest confirming, what I had thought for some time, that they are breeding in this part of the City.

Common Buzzard, Dawsholm Park 2010

Glorious Hogganfield Park LNR

I visited Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve in Glasgow yesterday 28 May 2012 - partly as a recce for my guided walk on Wednesday 13 June 2012 (see www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow).

The LNR was bathed in glorious sunshine and the temperature soared. The Park was looking good, with the Council having undertaken some maintenance improvements to some of the footpaths, and after 3 hours an ice cream went down a treat!

I recorded 36 species of bird plus various insects, particularly in and around the many ponds and pools on the northern and eastern edges of the park. A few images follow.

The viewing platform and naturalised edges bathed in sunshine..............

The pools, wetland, scrub and grassland to the east of the park...................

A male Ruddy Duck was a nice surprise.....................

The favourite plant of the Orange-tip Butterfly - Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower......

One of two species of damselfly seen, firstly a Blue-tailed Damselfly........

the second, a Large Red Damselfly............................................

Mull & Iona - rare bird post script

Mull & Iona, like many other islands, can attract rare or unusual birds. Staying at our B&B in Fionnphort were a couple from Glasgow, both keen walkers and also interested in birds. At breakfast, on Friday morning, they told us they had seen a male Red-backed Shrike on Erraid (near Fidden) and their description certainly met most if not all of the key ID features. I pointed out that this would be a a rare bird for the island so would try and find out if anyone else could find it or had seen it - we walked to the Fidden area, prior to catching our bus back to Craignure, but had no success.

However, I have discovered that on Saturday, a female Red-backed Shrike was seen  by a resident bird watcher near Treshnish House - some 20 miles, as the Shrike flies, from Erraid. Could there be two birds on Mull? If so, will they get together and breed? If I hear anymore I'll keep you posted.

For our part, I did find an immature Glaucous Gull near the Iona Ferry Terminal - not a rarity but certainly unusual for this time of year.

Glaucous Gull (centre), Iona

Mull & Iona are also Wilds Better!

With a forecast of warm, sunny weather we booked 5 days on Mull commencing Monday 21 May 2012.

Since my first visit in the 1980s, the number of B&Bs  on the island has risen sharply as has the quality. We were not to be disappointed spending a comfortable night in Craignure, 2 nights in Salen and finally one night at the wonderful Staffa House in Fionnphort.

We saw c80 species of bird ranging from the massive White-tailed eagle to the tiny Goldcrest and everything in between! We also had excellent sightings of Otter, Porpoise, Grey Seal, Common Seal, Red Deer, Fallow Deer, Mountain Hare, Rabbit and various insects - including the midge! There were also literally thousands of 'Jelly Fish' close inshore on Loch na Keal - a possible feature on the the forthcoming 'Springwatch' series.

If you haven't visited Mull or Iona, please do so - it is an unforgettable experience. Hopefully, the following photos might persuade you to giver it a try.

Duart Castle, Mull

Craignure Ferry Terminal

Hooded Crow

Woodland walk to Torosay gardens

Wood Warbler

Damselfly - possibly Large Red female (any ideas?)

'Bluebell Wood' near Loch na Keal, Mull

Bluebells

Loch na Keal

Record shot of Hooded Crow and White-tailed Eagle

'Jelly Fish' bonanza

Iona - west bay

Iona Abbey

Sunset over Iona from Fionnphort on Mull

They call me Mellow Yellow

Yesterday (14th), we visited the Lothians; absolutely nothing to do with Greater Glasgow but I simply wanted to share the following photos!

Yellow Wagtail

Goldcrest

Milngavie-West Highland Way Circular Walk

On Saturday (12th), I spent some 7 hours walking and birding along a nice scenic route just north of Glasgow. From Milngavie Station I walked along the West Highland Way (WHW) stopping at Craigallion Loch for some great views of Whinchat, Sedge Warbler and Tree Pipit. Leaving the loch, I soon reached the huts at Carbeth and turning right, I followed paths through Craigallion Woods. Initially the path was very muddy but soon I came upon a much wider, upgraded path which has been created partly, I assume, to help with the removal of some timber from the woods. This path emerged opposite an entry to Mugdock Country Park; from here I visited the castle before making my way back down to the WHW and Milngavie Station.

In total, I saw 33 species of bird plus two types of butterfly. Some images follow:

Craigallion Loch (looking north)

  

Record shot of Whinchat (nr Craigallion Loch)

  

Orange Tip (male)

Mugdock Wood

Whinchat (taken elsewhere in Scotland)

Seven Lochs Project

I attended a Community Engagement Workshop for the 'Seven Lochs Project' yesterday and it was good to meet a wide range of enthusiastic volunteers, representatives from 'green' groups and officers from both Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire Councils.

The broad aim of the 'Seven Lochs Project' is to create a nationally important wetland park between Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire. This will be done through linking existing Local Nature Reserves in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire with Drumpellier Country Park, other wildlife sites and open countryside. If the funding can be found, new paths will be created, habitats managed and improved, and enhanced visitor facilities provided.

A lot of good work has already been undertaken by the small project team, Glasgow City Council, North Lanarkshire Council and Forestry Commission Scotland, in collaboration with a variety of community and voluntary groups such as Froglife, Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Glasgow Local Group and Friends of Glasgow's LNRs.

For more information see
http://www.gcvgreennetwork.gov.uk/projects/Gartloch-Gartcosh/7-Lochs-Wetland-Park.html

A few images from the area follow:

Pond at Cardowan Moss LNR, Glasgow

Gartloch Pools (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation), Glasgow

Hogganfield Park LNR, Glasgow

Hopefully, the necessary funding will be found for this ambitious project - watch this space.

Foxes, Ravens, Buzzards & Roe Deer

Where would you go to see Red Foxes, Buzzards, Ravens and Roe Deer? Yes it has to be Glasgow, or Dawsholm Park LNR to be totally accurate!
Seconds after entering the Park, on Saturday morning, I spotted a family group of foxes (eventually 4 in total) one of which I managed to photograph...

Soon after I got a quick glimpse of a Roe Deer whilst all around me birds such as Willow Warbler, Robin, Blackbird and Dunnock were in full song. Great Tits, Blue Tits and a wheezy Greenfinch could also be heard.

I also saw and heard one of the local Ravens before it flew off to its nest.....

The main reason for my visit was to check out the 11 woodcrete nest boxes that had been erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves last year. I am pleased to report that, despite the storms, all 11 boxes survived, albeit some are a bit exposed as surrounding trees have crashed or been felled. It appears that at least 4 of the boxes are being used by Blue Tits - I'll update this over the summer (if it ever arrives).

In the midst of all of this, a pair of Buzzards circled overhead before giving great views atop a tall conifer. Other typical woodland birds included Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Mallard!

Moving on to the upper walkway, overlooking the River Kelvin, I failed again in my search for Kingfisher but had amazing views of another Red Fox before it was harried by a pair of Magpies.......

Here, I added Chiffchaff and Blackcap plus a female Mallard with 2 ducklings - later I discovered another female with 8 ducklings in the pond!

In total, I recorded 29 bird species, with my running total for the park for the year being 41.

I mentioned the Raven returning to its nest..... yet again they have raised 2 young.....

The only sad thing about today was finding out that not all dog owners realise that having 'bagged it' they should 'bin it', rather than hanging it from a railing!

Millichen - a wildlife haven

The Millichen area of Glasgow is located north of Summerston and is bounded by the River Kelvin, to the south, Balmore Road, to the east, Boclair Road to the north and the city boundary, to the west. It is bisected by Millichen Road. There are a number of farm buildings, cottages and steadings in the area and the privacy of the residents should be respected at all times.

Looking south east over Millichen and the 'steadings'

Millichen Road, looking east towards East Millichen Farm

Looking north with West Millichen Farm, on the left, and East Millichen Farm, on the right

The Millichen Area is the only place in Glasgow where you can regularly see Tree Sparrow and other 'red data' farmland birds such as Skylark, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting. Today I saw (or heard) all four and managed to photograph three.

Yellowhammer

Poor record shot of Tree Sparrow

Poor record shot of male Reed Bunting

In addition to the resident farmland birds, the area can be good for migrants. Today there were only a few species present; those which breed in the area - Swallow and Grasshopper Warbler (photo follows)....

and those that pass through - at least 7 Wheatear were present (photo follows)

In total, I saw or heard 25 bird species and saw three species of butterfly - Orange Tip, Peacock....

and Small Tortoiseshell....

Millichen is best visited in autumn or winter, when there can be 1000s of geese and other wildfowl, but on a sunny day like today it can also deliver a positive wildlife experience.

Balgray Reservoir Revisited

Balgray Reservoir lies to the south west of Glasgow, between Newton Mearns and Barrhead.

 From 1987 to 2000 it was my 'local patch' and I spent many happy hours surveying and generally looking for new or unusual birds. I have personally seen or heard 143 bird species at the Reservoir (and its immediate surrounding countryside) including rarities such as Spotted Sandpiper, Alpine Swift and American Wigeon. Since moving away from the area, I still manage to visit a few times each year and I am never disappointed.

Today, I saw 36 species of bird including a reasonable number of summer migrants - Common Sandpiper, Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin, Willow Warbler (photo follows)

and White Wagtail (record shot follows).

As well as the summer migrants there appeared to be a small number of Meadow Pipits moving through and I also had good views of Linnet and Reed Bunting

Perhaps the most unusual sighting was a Shelduck resting on the island alongside 5 Goosander, a pair of Lapwing and a pair of Oystercatcher - distant record shot of Shelduck and 2 of the Goosander follows.

The Reservoir can sometimes appear devoid of birds but if you are patient you will normally be rewarded.